Egads! You’ve waited until the last minute to try and get a restaurant reservation for Valentine’s Day! Curses! I’ll try to find some other arcane exclamations or admonishments from the early 20th century later. But for now, act quickly!

You must make a reservation lickedty split!

Here are some random thoughts that have worked pretty well for us, and used successfully by followers of wining and dining and other bon vivants.

Act now! Go to opentable.com and see what you can get. Tuesday may be impossible in your favorite restaurant.

Oh, but widen your horizons and try another night! Valentine’s is in the middle of the week. See if you can get a reservation Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday – in that order. Then, bring home some flowers on Tuesday – a card is also recommended, and breathlessly proclaim that you don’t want to take your honey out on some old weeknight when all the hoi polloi is around. Mention the clever time shifting you’ve done by extending the holiday in his or her honor, and when you’ve made the reservation for your special romantic evening. Order take-out. Open a bottle of wine. Relax. You’re off the hook.

Some tips if Tuesday night out is a must for your Valentine:

Plan a double-date with your best friends; a four-top is sometimes easier to get than a cozy table for two. Do NOT reserve a table larger than your needs and then saunter-in as a duet on Valentine’s and expect a warm greeting from the restaurant host (or a table).

Consider dining early. 5 to 6 p.m. is pretty quiet in most restaurants, even on Valentine’s. Or, hey! Go dancing, or to a movie, or a play, and schedule a late reservation-9 or 10 p.m. How European!

If your culinary skills exceed heating frozen chunks in a microwave, make a delicious home-cooked meal with wine, and serve some nice Champagne for an aperitif. Flowers and card are still recommended. Or, better yet? Jewelry!

Now, put a reminder in your phone to make a reservation for Valentine’s 2018 on January 15th–right after New Year’s for a five star restaurant. Or, have Seri do it.

Follow one or more of these suggestions, and your Valentine will think you’re the cat’s meow. (I promised more colloquialisms from the turn of the 20th Century). Well, 23 skidoo, and hip-hip hooray for you! Step out of the Wayback Machine now (mid-century), and have a very Happy Valentine’s . Bon appetit! And, good luck!